The potential final Indiana Jones adventure has arrived. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny see the titular character return for yet another captivating cinematic adventure. With over 40 years since the character’s debut in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones 5 brings in more than a few elements of the character’s past.
Fans can expect a few references, callbacks, and familiar faces to appear in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and the best easter eggs may be subtle enough that fans of the rugged archaeologist missed them on their first watch. Here are the best easter eggs in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and the ones fans might have missed.
This article contains spoilers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny!
11 Iconic Wilhelm Scream
The Wilhelm scream is an iconic sound effect in movies. This scream is used in many films, sort of like an “in-joke” for editors. The Wilhelm scream has featured in every single Indiana Jones movie, and it returns once again towards the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. As a younger, Nazi-fighting Indiana Jones reaches a train holding his friend and the Lance of Longinus, he pulls one of the Nazis off onto the tracks.
This Nazi shouts out in a death cry that is a missable Wilhelm scream. This sound is often heard when a minor character dies in many different films for decades. It certainly wouldn’t feel like an Indiana Jones movie if there was a lack of a Wilhelm scream.
10 The Lance Of Longinus
Featuring as the artifact Indiana Jones is after at the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the Lance of Longinus. This is known as the Holy Lance, and its significance holds some real-world significance. The Lance of Longinus is described as the real blade that pierced Jesus’ side as he hung upon the cross. The Lance of Longinus drew the blood of Jesus Christ during his crucifixion, and the Nazis believe it has immense power within.
What’s great about the Lance of Longinus in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is how it ties into the other films. Indiana Jones has already hunted for Christian artifacts like the Holy Grail and the Ark of the Covenant, so adding the Holy Lance to the mix brings back the farm charm of old, even if it was fake.
9 Opening Titles
As Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opens, fans might instantly recognize the Open Capitals Roman font used for the motion picture. This font, along with its coloring, is the same font and style used for all of the Indiana Jones movies. It’s great to see that even if Spielberg isn’t in the director’s chair, James Mangold has an absolute love for the franchise to carry on that innocent tradition.
The use of these opening titles just further cements the opening act of the film as a great adventure for the younger Indiana Jones. The entire sequence is exhilarating, with a believable de-aged Ford fighting Nazis in the 1940s. The opening titles and even cold-open style entry point to the film is a great way to join the other Indiana Jones movies.
8 Eels. Why Did It Have To Be Eels?
Although no snakes feature in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to scare the titular hero, there are eels. Indiana Jones isn’t scared of many things, but snakes? The archaeologist has a renowned fear of the serpents, and in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, he faces the snakes of the water: eels.
It’s fun to see Indiana Jones struggle to battle and escape the might of eels as he goes diving for a lost relic. It seems Indiana Jones can never escape his fears, and across 5 films, snakes have always been the biggest threat to his happiness, even if this one features the underwater variety.
7 The Diaries Of The Father
The motivation for Helena Shaw seems pretty clear from the moment audiences are introduced to her. She wants to find the obsession of her father, the dial of Archimedes that drove her father crazy. When Indy questions as to why Helena would want to go on this dangerous adventure, with an end goal not even set, she simply retorts “Wouldn’t you?”
This is all the motivation Indy needs, as he knows more than anyone the importance of a beloved parent. Indy echoed Helena’s actions in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where the titular hero went on a globetrotting adventure to follow Henry Jones Sr.’s diary and discover the whereabouts of dear old dad, as well as the findings of the Holy Grail. If Indy can do it, then surely Helena can.
6 Indy’s Time With Voodoo
As Indiana Jones scales a cliff with Helena, he makes mention of the time he was “tortured with voodoo”. Of course, this is a reference to his adventure in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, in which a ragdoll was made of Indiana Jones, and its keeper would poke and stab at it to cause the real Indiana Jones physical pain.
It shows the mystical elements of the world that exists in the Indiana Jones franchise, and it's funny to think that this poor old man has to climb a cliff at his age, all whilst remembering that wild time he was stabbed and prodded with voodoo magic.
5 The Fate Of Mutt Williams
One of the more dower easter eggs in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fate of Mutt Williams. Many fans of the series expected Mutt Williams to become the new Indiana Jones after the father and son shared an adventure with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. However, that was not meant to be, and the fate of Mutt Williams is revealed in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
There are a few pictures that fans can see with Mutt Williams, and when Indiana finally mentions him, he tells of his fate. Mutt was killed in action after enlisting in the army for the Vietnam War. The photos and love Indy had for his son might have been missed, much like how Indy misses his son.
4 Sallah’s Return
Many fans might already know about the fez-wearing, enthusiastic Sallah. This dear old friend of Indiana Jones is none other than Sallah Mohammed Faisel el-Kahir, someone who Indiana has been friends with since they were teenagers. It was great to see Sallah again after all these years and to check in with how he is doing.
Although Sallah longs for the desert and the riveting adventures of old, he now has a family in America, and his best years are behind him. Sallah has a few short and sweet scenes in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and everyone enjoys seeing this character who featured heavily in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
3 It Belongs In A Museum!
Indiana Jones has always been a loyal friend of archeology. His motives are never for greed, and always for righteousness. Across multiple adventures, Indiana collects artifacts of various cultures and centuries to put them in museums, followed by a righteous shout of “It belongs in a museum!”
Indiana Jones says that line a fair few times in the film, and it’s great to hear how even in his old age, he still prioritizes the preservation of ancient culture from centuries ago, even if that is at the nuisance of his goddaughter, who wants money above all else.
2 Henry Jones Sr.’s Watch
An older Indiana Jones berates Helena for her youthful and dangerous escapades, before the comments about the time. As Indiana Jones goes to check his watch, he realizes that it has been stolen by Teddy. However, this trick is no laughing matter, and Indiana proclaims that it was his father’s watch, and he wants it back.
Everyone who has seen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade knows the importance of Henry Jones Sr., Indiana Jones’ father. Henry was obsessed with the Holy Grail, much like Helena’s own father with Archimedes’ dial. It’s nice to see Indiana pay respect to his dad, and how he wears his watch on his latest adventure.
1 Where Doesn’t It Hurt?
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Marion and Indy share a beautiful moment, in which an injured Indy points to where it doesn’t hurt. Marion then proceeds to kiss where he points, leading to a heartfelt moment where the two lovers kiss. This moment is replicated beautifully in The Dial of Destiny ending.
Indy and Marion reunite amidst a rocky divorce and rekindle their marriage after the death of their son. To see the two live a happy ever after is beautiful, and a real tearjerker. The fact that Indy says “Where doesn’t it hurt?”, and Marion points to the same spots as Indy in the first movie is a lovely way to close the chapter on these icons of cinema.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is in theaters on June 30th.